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Life was very difficult for us in Vietnam. Our family fled North Vietnam in 1954 because the communists seized power and executed wealthy landowners and the bourgeois.

During this time, my father’s job was not paying enough to support our large family, and my parents were draining their savings.

After we submitted our application [to immigrate to Canada] in 1989, the Communist Vietnam government took back our identity cards. We were forbidden to go to school and to work, which meant that we lost all remaining rights as citizens.

In Canada, we really appreciate what freedom and democracy are, and how human rights are respected.

We are free to become involved with the activities of our Canadian Vietnamese Community Association. Through our Association we can join the fight that millions of Vietnamese expatriates are involved in. That is the fight for freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in our homeland still living under Communist rule.

Life was very difficult for us in Vietnam. Our family fled North Vietnam in 1954 because the communists seized power and executed wealthy landowners and the bourgeois.

During this time, my father’s job was not paying enough to support our large family, and my parents were draining their savings.

After we submitted our application [to immigrate to Canada] in 1989, the Communist Vietnam government took back our identity cards. We were forbidden to go to school and to work, which meant that we lost all remaining rights as citizens.

In Canada, we really appreciate what freedom and democracy are, and how human rights are respected.

We are free to become involved with the activities of our Canadian Vietnamese Community Association. Through our Association we can join the fight that millions of Vietnamese expatriates are involved in. That is the fight for freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in our homeland still living under Communist rule.

Although our lives fulfilled
We miss our homeland
Mothers spent sleepless nights
Wishing for our home
And love and life we know
It's harder to be upon
What's lost, we feel the pain
United, we'll survive

Through all twenty years,
looking back on memories
Touched by human soul,
with a love that lasts forever
We must be heard twenty years go by
Live in love and hate,
found our place in time
Grand merci la France
pour vos bras ouverts
Danke Germany for your open arms
Merci Canada pour la liberte
Thanks America, for your open arms
We thank the world
for its true freedom
We thank the world,
we thank the world
Thank you, we thank you all
All across the world,
scatter footsteps of Viet Nam
All across the world,
scatter footsteps of Viet Nam

A global citizen recognizes that individual responsibility traverses borders. Learn about the active citizenship role Linh Nguyen takes both locally and globally.

Linh Nguyen's Story:

Life was very difficult for us in Vietnam. Our family fled North Vietnam in 1954 because the communists seized power and executed wealthy landowners and the bourgeois.

During this time, my father's job was not paying enough to support our large family, and my parents were draining their savings.

After we submitted our application [to immigrate to Canada] in 1989, the Communist Vietnam government took back our identity cards. We were forbidden to go to school and to work, which meant that we lost all remaining rights as citizens.

In Canada, we really appreciate what freedom and democracy are, and how human rights are respected.

We are free to become involved with the activities of our Canadian Vietnamese Community Association. Through our Association we can join the fight that millions of Vietnamese expatriates are involved in. That is the fight for freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in our homeland still living under Communist rule.

Footsteps of Vietnam:

Although our lives fulfilled
We miss our homeland
Mothers spent sleepless nights
Wishing for our home
And love and life we know
It's harder to be upon
What's lost, we feel the pain
United, we'll survive

Through all twenty years, looking back on memories
Touched by human soul, with a love that lasts forever
We must be heard twenty years go by
Live in love and hate, found our place in time
Grand merci la France pour vos bras ouverts
Danke Germany for your open arms
Merci Canada pour la liberte
Thanks America, for your open arms
We thank the world for its true freedom
We thank the world, we thank the world
Thank you, we thank you all
All across the world, scatter footsteps of Viet Nam
All across the world, scatter footsteps of Viet Nam

Taking Action:

Consider how Linh takes an active citizenship role in her community both locally and globally. Seek out literature from advocacy groups and NGO's (non-governmental organizations) focused on immigration and human rights issues globally. Identify current issues through discussion. Then as a group select an issue through consensus. Create a plan of action. Many organizations will have ways for you to get involved. Investigate these possibilities as part of your plan. Then take action!

Resources for Further Study:

Refugees
CBC site with clips about the Boat People.
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-69-524/life_society/boat_people/